Mangual makes a big impression at Wilby

WATERBURY — She has her life goals laid out: a stint in the military first, followed by college, a major in criminal justice, a career in law enforcement and finally, politics.

My guess is you will cast a vote for Kasandra Mangual one day, and that’s Kasandra, with a K and one S.

Mangual is 15, and an Elizabeth, N.J. native who arrived in the city at age 9. It was here, first at North End Middle School and now at Wilby High, that she became involved in the school’s much-honored unified sports program.

Mangual, who is a Wilby cheerleader, works with the program throughout the school year and was recently selected to present a leadership workshop with the National Youth Activation Committee at Wesleyan University.

“I have always been that kind of person who likes to help out,” Mangual said, “and these kids don’t always have the same opportunities that I have. Someone has to stand up for them.”

Her first introduction to a unified sports program happened when she arrived in Waterbury. Wilby is thrilled that it occurred on Laurel Hill.

“Kasandra goes above and beyond what I expect from any student,” said Wilby principal Michele Buerkle, “not only for unified sports, but many other programs within the school. She dedicates so much time to Wilby. She is here during the day, she’s here in the afternoons and she comes back and volunteers at night. She dressed as Santa during the holidays, worked with special education students, and that is what she does every day. She is exceptional.”

Mangual followed her sister, Brianna, into the program as a volunteer.

“I saw how much fun the kids had, and I wanted to be part of that happiness,” Kasandra said.

Mangual does not see this as a volunteer opportunity that will later grace a college résumé. “It has become a livelihood,” she quipped. “It became my motivation for a lot of things, and my drive for success. When I face struggles in my life, I think of them and that pushes everything inside.”

Mangual’s plan is simple: to make the world a better place. But she seems intent, too, on making sure that unified programs and sports opportunities are available to all.

“I want to spread the program to the world,” she said. “It will be a process.”

So, Kasandra, will I vote for you for mayor one day?

“Probably.”

At Wesleyan, she led a presentation and a workshop for another pet project, called: End the “R” Word.

“Another slogan for it is, spread the word to end the word,” Mangual said.

Forgive me for using the word, but the R reference is for retarded. “It is an insult to children with disabilities,” Mangual said sternly. “I get angry about it.”

Mangual will be at Mohegan Sun Arena in March, at the CIAC basketball tournament finals, to greet fans and spread the word about ending the word. Look for Kasandra if you plan to watch some basketball. She’ll tell you a thing or two, and you might want to listen.

Mangual, we should note, is surprised that anyone makes a fuss about her work, or her goals, or that she even has to convince someone to stop using the “R” word.

“That should be wired into our brains,” she said. “We should get younger kids involved, so as they grow up, it is already in their minds and they volunteer like I do, but become bigger and better and have more potential and be able to do more.”